Can seaming mechanism



June 13, 1950 o. R. ROWE ETAL 2,511,738

CAN SEAMING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 007 925: SM444/4 Mu new J frag 04/4/59 AD. fih/" Fyj INVENTORS.

June 13. 1950 o. R. ROWE ETAL CAN SEAMING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 29, 1948 M 0 6 T. P mm; V (J0. mm P @32 Jr 4 Z @Ww M v. .0

June 13, 1950 o. R. ROWE El'AL 2,511,738

CAN SEAMING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 4o l l QM WJune 13, 1950 o. R. ROWE ETAL 2,511,738

I CAN SEAMING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 MALI/7M Jfrat/ 04/1/55 ,Q Pam? INVENTORS.

June '13, 1950 O. R. ROWE ETAL CAN SEAIIING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed June 29, 1948 INVENTORS.

Patented June 13, 1950 CAN SEAMING MECHANISM Oliver E. Rowe, Charles S.W. King, and William J. Stolp, Charlotte, N. 0., assignors, by directand mesne assignments, of one-half to R. H. Bouligny, Inc., acorporation of North Carolina, and one -half to Dixie Canner Company,Athens, Ga., a corporation of Georgia I Application June 29, 1948,Serial No. 35,918

9 Claims.

This invention relates to can seaming mechanisms. and in particular tomechanisms of this sort primarily adapted for home canning operations. Aprincipal feature of the can seaming mechanism of the present inventionis a unique arrangement for applying the seaming rolls by which theforce of application is balanced with respect to the chuck meansprovided for supporting a can body and lid for seaming. Anotherimportant feature is an arrangement by which the application of theseaming rolls may be finely adjusted.

These and other features of the present invention are described indetail below in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a can seaming mechanism embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the can seaming mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section arranged with angul'arly related quartersas indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 inFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding horizontal section partly cutaway and with thecam actuating the seaming rolls rotated 180; and Figs. '7 and 8 aresectional details illustrating the manner in which the seaming rolls areapplied for seaming.

Briefly described, the can seaming mechanism of the present inventioncomprises essentially a frame structure Ill adapted for supporting a canbody I I and an associated lid I2 for seaming, a crosshead or roller barI3 mounted on the frame structure I for reciprocation transversely ofthe can body I I and lid l2 to be seamed, seaming rolls !4 and 55carried on the crosshead l3, and means which will be described in detailpresently for reciprocating the crosshead l3 to apply the seaming rollsI 4 and I successively for seaming the lid l2 on the can body II.

The frame structure If! is fitted at its lower portion with screw clampsl6 for mounting on the edge of a table or the like as indicated by thebroken lines at I! (compare Figs. 1, 3 and 4) The head portion of theframe structure It! carries a suitable hand crank l8 by which theseaming mechanism is operated.

The can body II and associated lid I2 are supported on the framestructure by chuck means comprising a rotatable supporting table 19 and.avdriving chuck 20 V is carried on a spindle 2| (as shown best in Fig.3), which is received in a tubular sleeve 22, and: which sleeve 22 is inturn received in a flanged aperture 23 at the lower portion of the framestructure l0.

The flanged aperture 23 is formed with an upper extending edge providinga cam face as at 24, and the tubular sleeve 22 is fitted with a lug 25for following the cam face 24 so that upon rotation of the tubularsleeve 22 it is axially displaced in the flanged aperture 23. Means forrotating the tubular sleeve 22 is provided by a lever arm 26 fixed onthe upper end of the sleeve 22 (compare Figs. 1 and 3) and bymanipulating this lever arm 26 thesupporting table 19 may be elevatedfor clamping a can body II and an associatedlid I2 against the drivingchuck 20, or lowered for inserting or removing a can body and lid, asdesired. The spindle 2i carrying the supporting table I 9 is axiallysupported in the tubular sleeve 22 by resilient means compris ing a plugmember 21 and spring 28 contained in the sleeve 22 by a retaining plate29 fixed on its bottom end, so that the can body II and lid l2 arealways clamped against the driving chuck 20 under a uniform pressure.

The lower end of the spindle 2| is tapered as at 30 to dispose thelareaof contact with the plug member 21 at the center thereof and therebyreduce the moment of friction forces at this point to a minimum. Ifdesired, interchangeable plug members 21 of varying height may beprovided to adjust the supporting table l9 vertically for use withdifferent size can bodies H, such as the face of the table l9 may beadapted to support by suitable concentric bosses as shown at 3| and 32in Fig. .3.

The driving chuck 20 is. carried on a drive shaft 33 which is journalledon the head portion of frame structure In in the bore of a boss 34, andin a support plate 35 assembled on the head portion-of frame structureIn by bolts 36. The major portion of the drive shaft 33 is hexagonal incross-section and the driving chuck 20, an eccentricmember 31, acircular bushing 38, and a bevel gear 39, are formed with bores ofcorresponding cross-section and thus fitted for rotation with'the shaft33.

The bevel gear 39 is arranged on the drive shaft 33 just above thesupport plate 35, and the circular bushing 38 is disposed under thebevel gear 331:0 ride in a suitable bearing apertul'e ill the supportplate 35. The bevel gear The supporting table l9 39 and circular bushing38 are positioned on the drive shaft 33 between retaining rings 40 and Mwhich are placed in grooves (not shown) in shaft 33. The eccentricmember 31, which has a cylindrical shank 31a, is fitted. over theportion of the drive shaft 33 extending below the support plate 35, andthe driving chuck 20 is positioned against the lower end of thecylindrical shank 31a. and secured on the extending end of shaft 33 by aspring plate 42 bearing on the lower face of the chuck 20andfastenedtozshaft 33 by a screw 43.

The driving chuck 20 is formed with a peripheral flange portion asat-44disposed-downwardly to fit inside the lid I2 and support .it

during the seaming operation, and .the outer face of this peripheralflange 44 is preferably knurled as at 45 (see Figs. 1, '1, 8) to preventthe :lid I2 from slipping during .gseaming. For different sizecans,interchangeable drivingchucks 25 .may be used,,in whichcase-the drivingchuck .20 :may be changed by simply .removing the screw .43 and springplate .42 and. replacing them when the .new chuck has beenset inposition.

The drive shaft :33 is operated from the .hand crank I8 through acrankshaft 45 which carries a bevel gear 41 disposed to engage the bevelgear 39 on .drive shaft 33. Thecrankshaft-dfi is .journalled.at.48 and49 in the head portionof .frame structure @Ill, and .has an extendinportion 50 which is formed with a fiat asat 50a for engagingthe handcrank 18, and .which threaded to receive .a nut :I fonassembling thehand crank I8 ;in place. Accordingly, .rotationof the hand crank 18.will result in ,rotation .ofthedrivingchuck .28 and consequent rotation.of .a can body LI and lid .I2 heldbetween-the support chuck .I 9-and.driving chuck -20.

.As previously mentioned, seaming. rolls .14 .and I5 -.are carried on .acrosshead -.I3 which .is :arranged .for reciprocation on theframestructure III transversely.of .the. can body I.I .and-lid 1 2 to beseamed. The .crosshead I3 supported for operation ,in this manner bydownwardlyextending ears .52 formed .ateach end .of the support plate.35 ,(compare Figs. land 4.), the crosshead I3 being formed with notches53 .(see Figs. 5and .6) to allow it to be assembled for supportloy theseears 52 .and having an elongated .central slot 54 providing clearancefor the cylindrical shank 31a ofeccentric member 31 carriedon.drive,shat.33.

For reciprocating the crosshead I3, there ,is sandwichedibetween thecrosshead l3 and the support plate 35 a cam member 55 arranged forrotation on the cylindricalshaznk 31a of eccentric member 31., andcarryin in fixed relation a circular plate member :56 formedto'providean internal gear 51 surrounding the eccentricmember 3.1 inspaced relation. Inside the internal gear 51, .an external gear oflesser diameter 58. is mounted for displacement by the eccentric member31 in engagement with the internal gear '51.

The eccentric member 31, external gear. 58, and internal gear 51,comprise a speed reduction means between the drive shaft 33 and cammember 55, by which the cam member 55 is rotated at a rate slow enoughto apply the seaming rolls I4 and I5 each for an effective period as thecan body II and lid I2 are rotated during the seaming operation. Thearrangement presently illustrated is adapted fora speed reduction of21:1 by an internal gear 51 formed with twentyone teeth and an externalgear 58 formed with one less, or twenty teeth. If a different speedreduction were desired the gears 51 and 58 would 4 be proportionedaccordingly in the same manner. As mentioned above, the external gear 58is mounted for displacement on the eccentric member 31 in engagementwith the internal gear 51. The external gear 58 is further arranged withan extending arm member 59 fixed on its upper surface and received in aflared slot 60 formed in the support plate 35 (see Figs. 2, 5, and 6).The extending end of this arm member 59 is enlarged somewhat as shown atBI so that it is .engageclby the slot .50 to prevent rotation of theexternal gear 58, but the slot 60 is long enough and is flaredsufficiently to clear the arm member 59 so that .it may slide and rockto allow displacementof the external gear 58 by the eccentric member 31in engagement with the in- =ternal. gear51.

As a result, the external gear '58 is displaced in a circular path inengagement with the internal gear 51, which causes the internal gear51to rotate, and as there is a differential of 21:20 in teeth betweenthe internal gear 51 and external gear 58, there is a progressiveselection of engaging teeth which transmit one twenty-first of arevolution to the internal gear .51 for each circulardisplacementoftheexternalgcar 58 corresponding to one revolution of the eccentricmember 31 and drive shaft 33. This rate of rotation is transmitted fromthe internal gear 51 to the cam member 55 to which it is fixed.

Reciprocation of the crosshead I3 is actuated from the cam member '55through opposed cam followers 52 mounted on the crosshead I3 in relationto the cam member .55. The cam member 55 is formed with va working faceas at 53 which is disposed for contacting the opposed cam followers 62alternately, .and which has an extent sufiiciently less than .180 toprovide a neutral position .(as illustrated in Fig. 2) at which both ofthe seaming rolls I4 and I5 are retracted so that a can body II andanassociated lid I2 can be inserted for seaming, or removed'after seaming.In order to indicate the ,position of the cam 55, .a suitable index.marking .64 may be located on the head portion of the frame structureII) (as shown in Fig. 1-) as a reference point .in relation to markings.on the circular plate member 56 as at 65 to indicate the neutralposition of the cam member 55 .(seeFig. 2), and at 63 and B1 to indicatethe ,point of application of the seaming rolls .I4 and I5 (compare Figs.5 and .6)

A seaming operation is started with the cam member 55 in neutralposition, so that bothof the seaming rolls I4 and .I5'are retracted, orspaced from the driving chuck 20, as noted above and as illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, to allow a can body I I and an associated lid I2 to beloaded for seaming. After loading the can body II and lid 12 andclamping them against the driving chuck 20 by elevating the supportingtable I9 as previously described, the seaming operation proper iscarriedout simply by turning the hand crank I3, which resultsin rotation of thedriving chuck 20 and reciprocation of the crosshead I3 to apply the.seaming rolls I4 and I5 as also described above.

A unique feature of this operatin arrangement is the manner in which theforce of application is transmitted to each of the seaming rolls I4 andI5 from the cam member 55 through a cam follower .at the opposite end ofthe crosshead I3. Figs. 5 and 7, for example, illustrate the disposition.of these operating. elements when the first, or what is commonlydesignated as the primary, seaming roll I4 is applied. As shown in Figs.5

and 7, application of the seaming roll I4-' is efi'ected byreciprocation of thecrosshead I3 to the right as seen in thedrawing-which results from contact of the working'face 63 of cam member55 with the cam follower 62 at the righthand end of crosshead I3.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the force of application istransmitted to the seaming roll I4 from the drive shaft 33 through cammember 55 to the righthand cam follower 62 and then back throughcrosshead I3. As a result, the force of application is balanced withrespect to the drive shaft 33. That is, the force on driving chuck 20when seaming roll' I4 is applied is necessarily equal to the force oncam member 55 when it is in contact with the righthand cam follower 62to apply the seaming roll I4, and as these forces are applied inopposite directions and the driving chuck 20 and cam member 55 are bothcarried on the drive shaft 33, they balance or counteract each other sothat there is no unbalanced lateral pressure on the drive shaft 33during the seamingoperation. Moreover, the seaming rolls I4 and I5 andthe cam followers 62 are both mounted on the crosshead I3 according tothe present invention, so that they are disposed in substantially thesame horizontal plane, so that the fiexure stresses on drive shaft 33 orother operating elements are negliible. l l

The second, or secondary, seaming roll I5 is applied in exactly the samemanner as'described above when the cam member 55 rotates'to the pointwhere its working face 63 is in contact with the cam follower 62 at theleft end of the crosshead I3 as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. As is wellknown in the art, this secondary seaming roll I5 can be formed 'tofinish a seam between the lid I2 and can body II which hasbeen curled bythe primary seaming roll I4. After the secondary seaming roll I5 hasbeen applied, a cycle of the cam member 55 will have been completed sothat the neutral position will be reached again with both seaming rollsM and I5 retracted so that the can body II and lid I2 just seamed may beremoved and another inserted for a subsequent operation.

It has previously been mentioned that the supporting table I9 maybeadapted for various size cans, and that interchangeable driving chucks20 may be provided for use with different can sizes, as desired. Theseaming rolls I4 and I5 are likewise arranged on the crosshead I3 fordisposition to accommodate a variety of can sizes. For this purpose, thecrosshead I3 is formed with a plurality of tapped mounting apertures asat 68, 69, and If! each located'in accordance with a given can' sizewhich may be designated by an appropriate legend marked on the crossheadI3 as shown in Fig. 6. The seaming rolls I4 and I5 are mountedon studsII which may be screwed in the corresponding apertures of the group 68,69, III, for the can size selected (see Fig. 3). These studs H areshouldered about midway of their length as at 12, and their headportions I3 form a second shoulder as indicated at I4. A washer I5is'provided to fit each stud II about the shoulder I2, so that thisWasher 15 will be clamped between the crosshead I3 and the shoulder I2to provide a bearing surface for the top face of the seaming rolls I4and I5 when the studs II are inserted in the selected mounting apertures68, 69, or ID. The studs II are further formed with the shoulder 72spaced from the shoulder 14, presented by the head portion I3,sufficie'ntly to allow free rotation of the seaming'rolls l4 and I5 onthe studs II between the head portions 13 and the washers I5.

To adjust the seaming rolls I4 and I5 more finely for a given can size,further means are provided according to the present invention by aneccentric mounting of the cam followers I52. The cam followers 52comprise a roller I6 which is provided to ride the cam member 55, andwhich is carried for rotation on a pin I1 (see Fig. 3). The pin 11projects from an enlarged base I8 and is arranged eccentrically withrespect to this base 18 so as to mount the roller I6 on the crosshead I3eccentrically with respect to its axis of rotation (compare Figs. 2, 5,and 6). The base I8 forming the eccentric mounting for the roller I6 isfitted in an aperture as at I9 in the crosshead I3 and has fixed on itsupper surface a lever member or arm overlying the top surface of thecrosshead I3 and suitably extending slightly beyond the ends of thecrosshead I3. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the base I8 maybe rotated in the crosshead i3 by adjusting the position of the leverarm 86 to shift the position of the eccentrically disposed pin 1'! andthereby adjust or set the rollers 16 in relationto the cam member 55which in turn will adjust the application of the seaming rolls I4 or I5.It is common practice to guage the adjustment of the seaming rolls in acan seaming mechanism of this sort with feeler Wires. The abovedescribed arrangement allows an adjustment of the seaming rolls to bemade in this manner with the greatest accuracy and much more preciselythan with other arrangements heretofore in use.

Means adjacent the extending ends of the adjusting lever arms 8!! forengaging the crosshead I3 and locking the cam followers 62 at anadjusted setting is provided by screws 8| carried in the arms 80 to ridein arcuate slots 82 formed at the ends of the crosshead I3. Below thecrosshead I3, the screws 8I are fitted with washers 83 and nuts 84, thewashers 83 preferably being flanged as at 85 and 86 to prevent rotationof the washers 83 with respect to the crosshead I3 and to preventrotation of the nuts 85 with respect to the washers 83 so that the leverarms 80 may be locked or freed on the crosshead I3 merely .bymanipulating the screws 8|. When locked in place by this means, asubstantial retaining moment is provided so that the cam followers 62are easily held secure at an adjusted setting.

The above described arrangement of the can seaming mechanism of thepresent invention provides a sturdy and serviceable construction whichis balanced as pointed out above for smooth operation and to avoid wear,and which may be easily and accurately adjusted for operation. Thearrangement of the present invention described above, however, is apreferred embodiment which has been selected for purposes ofillustration, and the .novel features of this invention may also beemployed in can seaming mechanisms generally as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, means forsupporting a can body and an associated lid on said frame structure forseaming, means including a drive shaft for rotating said supportingmeans, a crosshead mounted on said frame structure for transverserectilinear reciprocation diametrically with respect to said lid and canbody, primary and secondary seaming rolls carried on said crosshead atsubstantially diametrically opposed positions with respect to said lidand can body, said seaming rolls being aligned on said crosshead in thedirection of reciprocation of said crosshead, and means actuated by saiddrive shaft for reciprocating said crosshead, whereby said seaming rollsare applied successively for seaming said lid on said can body with theforce of application applied through said crosshead substantiallydirectly in the line of application of said seaming rolls and with theforce of application transmitted from said actuating drive shaft in adirection opposite to the direction of the reaction force at saidsupporting means when said seaming rolls are applied for seaming saidlid on said can body, said primary seaming roll being applied byreciprocation of said crosshead in one direction, and reciprocation ofsaid crosshead in the other direction resulting in withdrawal of saidprimary seaming roll and application of said secondary seaming roll.

2. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, chuck means onsaid frame structure for supporting a, can bodyand an associated lid forseaming, means for rotating a can body and lid supported by said chuckmeans, said rotating means including a drive shaft, a crosshead mountedon said frame structure for transverse rectilinear reciprocationdiametrically with respect to said lid and can body, seaming rollscarried on said crosshead at substantially diametrically opposedpositions with respect to said lid and can body, said seaming rollsbeing aligned on said crosshead in the direction of reciprocation ofsaid crosshead, and means actuated by said drive shaft for translatingrotation to rectilinear motion for reciprocating said crosshead to applysaid seaming rolls successively for seaming said lid on said can bodywith the force of application applied through said crossheadsubstantially directly in the line of application of said seaming rollsand with the force of application transmitted from said actuating driveshaft in a direction opposite to the direction of the reaction force atsaid chuck means when said seaming rolls are applied for seaming saidlid on said can body.

3. In a can seaming mechanism adapted for seaming a lid on a can body,rotatable chuck means for supporting a can body and an associated lidfor seaming, means including a, drive shaft for rotating said chuckmeans, rotating cam means actuated from said drive shaft, a crossheaddisposed for transverse rectilinear reciprocation diametrically withrespect to the lid and can body, seaming rolls carried on said crossheadat substantially diametrically opposite positions with respect to saidlid and can body, said seaming rolls being aligned on said crosshead inthe direction of reciprocation of said crosshead, and diametricallyopposed cam followers mounted on said crosshead in relation to said cammeans and in alignment with said seaming rolls whereby said crosshead isreciprocated by said cam means to apply said seaming rolls with theforce of application applied through said crosshead substantiallydirectly in the line of application of said seaming rolls and with theforce of application transmitted through said cam means from saidactuating drive shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of thereaction force at said chuck means when said seaming rolls are appliedfor seaming said lid on said can body.

4. :Ina can seaming mechanism adapted for seaming a lid on a can body,the structure de--- fined ,in claim 33 and further characterized in thatsaid opposed cam followers are eccentrically mounted on said crossheadwith respect to their axis of rotation for adjusting the application ofsaid seaming rolls, a lever member is fixed on the eccentric mountingsfor each of said cam followers for adjusting the setting of said camfollowers, and means are provided adjacent the extending ends of saidlever members for engaging said crosshead and locking said cam fol-.lowers at an adjusted setting.

5. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, rotatable chuckmeans on said frame structure for supporting a can body andan associatedlid for seaming, means including a drive shaft journalled on said framestructure for rotating said chuck means, rotating cam means actuatedfrom said drive shaft, a crosshead mounted on said frame structure fortransverse rectilinear reciprocation diametrically with re-' spect tosaid lid and can body, seaming rolls carried on said crosshead atsubstantially diametrically opposite positions with respect to saidlidand-can body, said seaming rolls being aligned on said crosshead in thedirection of reciprocation of said crosshead, and diametrically opposedcam followers mounted on said crosshead in relation to said cam meansand in alignment with said seaming rolls whereby said crosshead isreciprocated by said cam means to apply said seaming rolls successivelyfor seaming said lid on said can body with the force of applicationapplied through said crosshead substantially directly in the line ofapplication of said seaming rolls and with the force of applicationtransmitted through said cam means from said actuating drive shaft in adirection opposite to the direction of the reaction force at said chuckmeans when said seaming rolls are applied for seaming said lid on saidcan body, said cam followers being eccentrically mounted on saidcrosshead with respect to their axis of rotation for adjusting theapplication of said seaming rolls.

6. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, rotatable chuckmeans disposed on said frame structure for supporting a can body and anassociated lid for seaming, a crosshead mounted on said frame structurefor transverse rectilinear reciprocation diametrically with respect tosaid lid and can body, seaming rolls carried on said crosshead atsubstantially diametrically'opposed positions with respect to said lidand can body, saidseaming rolls being aligned on said crosshead in thedirection of reciprocation of said crosshead, means including a driveshaft journalled on said frame structure for rotating said-chuck'means,means actuated from said drive shaft for translating rotation tovrectilinear motion for reciprocating said crosshead to apply saidseaming rolls successively for seaming said lid on said can body withthe force of application applied through said crossheadsubstantiallydirectly in the line of application of said seaming rolls and with theforce of application transmitted from said actuating drive shaft in adirection opposite to the direction of the reaction force at said chuckmeans when said seaming rolls are applied for seaming said lid on saidcan body, and speed reduction means interposed between said lastmentioned means and said drive shaft.

'7. A can seaming mechanism as defined in claim 6 and furthercharacterized in that said speed reduction means comprises an eccentricdisposed for rotation with said means for rotating said chuck means, anexternal gear mounted on said eccentric, means preventing rotation ofsaid external gear but allowing displacement of said gear by saideccentric, and a rotatable internal gear engaging said external gear.

8. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, means on saidframe structure for supporting and rotating a can body and associatedlid for seaming, a crosshead mounted on said frame structure fortransverse rectilinear reciprocation diametrically with respect to saidlid and can body, seaming rolls carried on said crosshead atsubstantially diametrically opposed positions with respect to said lidand can body for application upon reciprocation of said crosshead forseaming said lid on said can body, said seaming rolls being aligned onsaid crosshead in the direction of reciprocation of said crosshead,rotating cam means associated with said means for supporting androtating the can body and lid and diametrically opposed cam followersmounted on said crosshead in relation to said cam means and in alignmentwith said seaming rolls for reciprocating said crosshead, and speedreduction means for actuating said cam means from said means forrotating the can body and lid, said speed reduction means comprising aneccentric disposed for rotation with said means for rotating the canbody and lid, an external gear mounted on said eccentric, an extendingarm member fixed on said external gear, means on said frame structureengaging said arm member and thereby preventing rotation of saidexternal gear but allowing a sliding rocking movement of said arm memberwhereby displacement of said external gear by said eccentric ispermitted, and a rotatable internal gear engaging said external gear anddisposed for driving said cam means.

9. A can seaming mechanism comprising a frame structure, rotatable chuckmeans disposed on said frame structure for supporting a can body and anassociated lid for seaming, means including a drive shaft journalled onsaid frame structure for rotating said chuck means, rotatable cam meansactuated from said drive shaft, a crosshead mounted on said framestructure for transverse rectilinear reciprocation diametrically withrespect to said lid and can body, seaming rolls carried on saidcrosshead at substantially diametrically opposed positions with respectto said lid and can body for application upon reciprocation of saidcrosshead for seaming said lid on said can body, said seaming rollsbeing aligned on said crosshead in the direction of reciprocation ofsaid crosshead, diametrically opposed cam followers mounted on saidcrosshead in relation to said cam means and in alignment with saidseaming rolls for reciprocating said crosshead upon rotation of said cammeans, and speed reduction means interposed between said cam means andsaid drive shaft, said speed reduction means comprising an eccentricdisposed for rotation with said drive shaft, an external gear mounted onsaid eccentric, an extending arm member fixed on said external gear,means on said frame structure slidingly engaging the extending end ofsaid arm member and thereby preventing rotation of said external gearbut said means allowing a sliding rocking movement of said arm memberwhereby displacement of said external gear by said eccentric ispermitted, and a rotatable internal gear engaging said external gear anddisposed for driving said cam means.

OLIVER R. ROWE.

CHARLES S. W. KING.

WILLIAM J. STOLP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,201,861 Ochs Oct. 17, 19161,351,831 Brenzinger Sept. '7, 1920 1,813,220 Young July 7, 19311,954,875 Hopkins Apr. 17, 1934 1,975,022 Scruggs Sept. 25, 19342,023,598 Kronquest Dec. 10, 1935 2,133,869 Nelson Oct. 18, 19382,181,237 Ives Nov. 28, 1939 2,216,082 Kronquest Sept. 24, 19402,228,651 Buck Jan. 14, 1941 2,410,263 Brenzinger Oct. 29, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 402,621 Germany 1924

